Clamp



R. L. WHITE Aug. 13, 1968 CLAMP Filed Oct. 22, 1965 Ill:

INVENT OR ROBERT L. WHITE United States Patent 3,396,438 CLAMP Robert L. White, 1940 Marsa Drive, Springfield, Mo. 65804 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,638 1 Claim. (Cl. 24-243) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A clamp or pinning device adapted for engaging textile material, such as for fastening baby diapers, having a plurality of needles reciprocally supported in a recessed wall and engageable with an opposed wall to fasten the material. 'l he needles are carried by a disc rotatably supported by a threaded follower.

The present invention relates to improvements in clamps and is concerned more particularly with clamps adapted for engaging cloth or other textile materials.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel clamp having embodied therein needle or like penetrating members which are projecta-ble into the clamp material for secure engagement. The invention also provides novel support means for the needle members whereby the needle members are housed within the body of the clamp when the clamp is not in use for purposes of safety and convenience.

A preferred use of the clamp of the present invention is as a substitute for the conventional safety pin for fastening baby diapers in a rapid manner and for safety and comfort of the infant.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the principles of the invention has been selected for exemplification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clamp constructed in accordance with the invention and also showing an identification tag or the like which may be used in conjunction with the clamp if desired;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the clamp shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the needle members in retracted inoperative position; and

FIG. 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, designates the saddle or body member of the clamp which is composed of opposed spaced arms 12 and 14 interconnected by a yoke 16, preferably all integrally formed. The arm portion 12 is relatively thicker in cross-section than the arm 14 and is provided with a central cylindrical core 18 for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

For clamping the folds or layers of cloth or other material, indicated in broken lines at C, between the arms 12 and 14 a plurality of needle members 20 are provided. For supporting the needle members 20, a pair of discs 22 and M of circular configuration are provided and adapted for slidable movement within the cylindrical core 18. The outer disc 22, as shown in FIG. 22, is provided with countersunk holes for reception of the heads of the protruding needles 20 so that the heads of the needles are flush with the inner face of the disc 22. The inner disc 24 is a convenient means of securing and protecting the heads of the needles.

As a follower for projecting and retracting the needles "ice 20 relative to the core 18, a finger twist screw 26 having an operating head 28 is in threaded engagement with a receiving aperture provided in the wall of arm 12 in axial alignment with the core 18. A locking screw 30 is threadably received in a central bore provided in the screw 26 and serves the purpose of securing the discs 22 and 24 and the needles 20 carried thereby to the screw 26 so that they are adjustable by finger twist operation to and between the extreme positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The needle discs 22 and 24 are norm-ally freely rotatable upon the shaft of the locking screw 30 between its head and the end of finger twist screw 26. However, when the needles 20 begin penetration of the clamped material C, the needles 20 are held against rotation and are thrust axially forward into the material as shown in FIG. 2. Needles 20 are similarly held against rotation as they are withdrawn for release of the material C. As will be seen in FIG. 3, when the needles 20 are in fully retracted position, they are housed completely within the core 18 leaving no projecting points.

If the use of an identifying tag, as indicated at 32, is desired, such as in nursery wards or for other reasons, the tag may be apertured and conveniently hung from the shaft of the finger twist screw 26, as shown.

Also, where the device is used as a diaper clamp, a regular babys rubber pant with cushioned ear flaps sewn on each side may be tucked down between the babys skin and the adjacent arm 14 of the clamp.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not confined to the precise structure and arrangements of parts as herein illustrated and described but embraces all such modifications thereof as may come within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

1. A clamp which comprises,

opposed interconnected arms,

one of said arms being of a greater thickness than the other arm,

there being a cored recess provided in said one arm opening toward the other arm,

a plurality of needles,

a disc supporting said needles and movable axially within said cored recess,

a threaded follower screw for moving said needle supporting disc laxially of said cored recess,

said needle supporting disc being secured to said follower screw by a lock screw in axial engagement with said follower screw,

said needle supporting disc being rotatable upon the shaft of said lock screw,

there being countersunk apertures in said needle supporting disc for the heads of said needles, and

a second disc covering the heads of said needles.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 524,872 8/ 1894 Stephen 24-243 573,317 12/1896 Younger 24-243 826,294 7/ 1906 Waldschmidt. 931,023 8/1909 Albertoni et a1. 24-150 1,705,902 3/ 1929 Dautch. 2,187,642 1/ 1940 Brown. 2,861,312 11/1958 Buchwald et a1. 24-162 XR 3,269,766 8/1966 Gardner 24243.8 XR

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,351,976 12/1963 France.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner. 

